North Korea is a religion. We are told that Kim is a god and that

"North Korea is a religion. We are told that Kim is a god and that he knows what you are thinking and how many hairs are on your head. It is the only country which talks about 'thought crime' - even thinking is a crime." These haunting words from Park Yeon-mi paint a chilling picture of a society where oppression and control have reached such extremes that the very thoughts of its people are not their own, but subject to the iron grip of a regime that has elevated its leader to the level of a deity. Park’s statement reveals the tragic irony that, in North Korea, the state has replaced traditional religion with the worship of Kim Jong-un, making the nation a cult-like society where the leader's authority is absolute, extending even into the most private corners of the human experience—our thoughts.

In the ancient world, religion was often the highest source of authority. It guided the people, shaped their moral compass, and provided them with a framework for understanding the mysteries of life and death. Great civilizations, such as the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, held their gods in reverence, believing their gods to be both omnipotent and omnipresent. But these gods were often seen as forces to be revered, not feared to the extent of totalitarian control. The idea that a leader could be worshipped as a god is not new, but in North Korea, it has been carried to such extremes that it mirrors the very essence of religious totalitarianism—where the leader is not only a figurehead but a divine being who dictates every aspect of life, from actions to thoughts.

The concept of thought crime, as Park Yeon-mi describes it, evokes the terrifying vision of George Orwell's 1984, a dystopian world where Big Brother watches and controls every aspect of a citizen’s life, including their thoughts. The very idea that thinking could be considered a crime is an affront to the basic freedoms that many of us take for granted. In Orwell's vision, the totalitarian regime seeks to control not only the bodies of its citizens but their minds, shaping them into perfect instruments of the state. In North Korea, the reality is far worse: not only the actions but also the thoughts of the people are subject to punishment. The government seeks to eradicate all forms of individuality, enforcing its dogma not just on actions but on the very soul of the person.

Consider the story of Park Yeon-mi herself. Born into the North Korean regime, she was taught from a young age to revere Kim Jong-un as a god, to believe that he had supernatural powers and could know her every thought. Thought control in such a system is not just a political tool; it is a spiritual weapon that binds the individual to the state in a way that is nearly impossible to break. Park, who eventually escaped North Korea, has shared with the world the harrowing details of living in a society where the very act of thinking differently—of having an independent thought—was seen as a betrayal. The sacrifice of freedom, of personal autonomy, is the price one pays for living in such a regime. Park’s escape and testimony are a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable oppression.

Yet, despite the brutality of this system, the lesson we learn from Park’s words is one of resilience and freedom. The human spirit is not easily subdued, and even in the face of overwhelming forces, individuals can break free and find their own truth. The struggle for freedom of thought is a fight that continues to this day, not just in places like North Korea, but in many parts of the world where totalitarianism seeks to control the hearts and minds of the people. Religious freedom, the right to think and believe as we choose, is a core element of human dignity. It is a right that must be protected at all costs, for once it is lost, it is the soul itself that is enslaved.

The lesson here, as we reflect on the words of Park Yeon-mi and the terrible reality of North Korea, is that the freedom to think and believe as we choose is the very essence of what makes us human. Thought is sacred. It is through our thoughts that we create, that we question, that we challenge the world around us. To live in a society where even our thoughts are controlled is to live in spiritual servitude, where the deepest parts of our humanity are stripped away. As citizens of the world, we must fight to preserve freedom of thought for all people, recognizing that true freedom is not merely about what we do, but about who we are in our minds and hearts.

Let us, then, take Park Yeon-mi's testimony to heart, and never take for granted the freedoms we enjoy. We must protect the sanctity of the individual mind, standing in solidarity with those who are oppressed and denied the basic rights of thought, speech, and belief. Just as the ancient philosophers sought to protect the mind from tyranny, so must we today defend freedom of thought—for it is in the mind that true liberation begins. Let us honor the human spirit by ensuring that every individual, regardless of where they live, is free to think, believe, and live according to their own truth.